‘Biggest ever Tramlines’ rocks across Sheffield

Tens of thousands of music fans swarmed into Sheffield across the weekend as the ‘biggest ever Tramlines Festival’ took over the city.

The three-day extravaganza took in venues all over the city as Ponderosa Park, Devonshire Green and stages throughout the centre became home to live music.

De La Soul at the Main Stage in Sheffield, United Kingdom on 26 July 2015. Photo by Glenn Ashley.

Organisers said this year’s festival was the biggest ever Tramlines as the likes of Basement Jaxx, The Charlatans and De La Soul wowed fans.

The main stage moved from Devonshire Green to a much larger stage in Ponderosa Park near Upperthorpe.

Despite some heavy rain on Friday and Sunday, fans took to each venue in their thousands throughout the weekend.

Music fans said the festival has improved on previous years and said the event is building momentum.

The Sherlocks at the Devonshire Green Stage in Sheffield, United Kingdom on 26 July 2015. Photo by Glenn Ashley.

Emily Gash, aged 22, from Dore, said: “It’s getting bigger and bigger. I have never seen Tramlines as busy as when Basement Jaxx played the main stage.

“The stage is better because you can watch from the top of the hill. If Basement Jaxx had played at Devonshire Green it would have been a nightmare.”

Josh Hayselden, aged 22, from Rotherham, said: “It’s really well put together and organised. People who came for the first time this year will come back next year.”

Duncan Thomas, aged 32, from Sheffield, said: “It has been really good, and it has been great coming with the kids - there are so many old and young people mixing, it’s a really nice atmosphere and it doesn’t feel too commercial.”

The festival kicked off with electro-hip hop/rap artist Ghostpoet at the main stage, followed by punk band Slaves and classic indie group The Charlatans.

Wu-Tang Clan cancelled their planned appearance with just three days notice last week, but their hip-hop replacements Mobb Deep and De La Soul had fans bouncing on Sunday evening.

Devonshire Green played host to local bands The Sherlocks and The Crookes while Cathedral saw singer/songwriters Hannah Lou Clark and Marika Hackman stun audiences with their vocals.

Other venues including Millennium Galleries, Leadmill, DQ and The Harley hosted a mix of bands, DJs and vocalists into the early hours.

But the bands weren’t just limited to stages and clubs - live bands played on moving trams setting off from Sheffield Station every hour throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Reaction to the new main stage location was mixed from some fans.

Zoe Webster, aged 28, from Sheffield, said: “I would prefer it to be in Devonshire Green.

“It’s easier to get to the other venues, for example if you wanted to go to Corporation or Cathedral, it’s easier to go from one place to the next.